Whitby
For anyone who has never been to Whitby before you are in for a treat. Whitby has such a diverse range of events and activities, shops, bars and restaurants and local attractions to suit all ages, tastes and budgets. So, where to start…
Whitby Abbey
History - Whitby Abbey was founded in AD 657 by Abbess Hild and still stands proud over the town today. It was Whitby’s first monastic site and became one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world.
One of the things the Abbey is most famous for is that in AD664 Whitby hosted a landmark meeting, known as a synod, to decide the date of Easter. By opting to follow the Roman Christian tradition rather than the Celtic one, it was crucial in determining the direction of the English church.
The Abbey is also known as the inspiration for the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. On a more present day note, on Thursday 26 May 2022, they marked the 125th anniversary of Bram Stoker's iconic novel by breaking the record for the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Vampires with 1,369 vampires!
Next to the Abbey is St Mary’s Church and the famous 199 steps that lead into the town. Many people believe Dracula is buried at this church - maybe you can find his grave!
Local Shops
There are lots of local shops selling unique items. We have plenty of shops selling items made from Whitby Jet (the jewellery is beautiful). There are also unique shops selling clothes, household items, books etc.
There is a quaint bookshop on Church Street selling books that have either been set in the area or have been written by authors from the area https://www.whitbybookshop.co.uk/
Gutsy Gingers is a lovely little shop selling unique clothes, incense sticks, soothing cd’s, and many more items so it’s always worth a visit https://www.facebook.com/GutsyGingers/
The White Rabbit on Skinner Street sell all things to do with Alice in Wonderland so that is a great little shop to visit too https://www.facebook.com/THE-WHITE-RABBIT-31-33-Skinner-St-West-Cliff-shopping-areaWhitby-682599315176825/
There are quite a few shops to browse that sell beautiful Whitby Jet jewellery. This is just one of them... https://blackpearlwhitby.com/
There are so many other lovely shops in Whitby it would be impossible to list them all, but hopefully you will discover more delights as you amble along our cobbled streets at your leisure.
Things To Do
There are quite a few things to do and sights to see in Whitby. As well as visiting Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church there is the famous Whale Bone arch up on West Cliff and also the James cook statue overlooking the town - these give a lovely photo opportunity.
There is the Dracula Experience which is a unique tour through the Dracula story and the connection to Whitby and uses animated scenes, electronic special effects and live actors. Their website is https://draculaexperience.co.uk/
Eskape Whitby is a fun way to spend an hour or so. If you like escape rooms you’ll love this one! Money off vouchers available in reception for our customers too! https://www.eskapewhitby.co.uk/
There are lots of different boat trips you can take from Whitby. Yorkshire Coast Boat Trips is just one of them, but if you are staying with us then we can offer you a discount on this particular boat trip. Pop into reception for further information when you stay with us. Their website is https://yorkshirecoastboattrips.co.uk/
If you enjoy walking then there is the Cleveland Way footpath which runs through Whitby and will take you for miles along the coast. Very beautiful.
Part of the Cleveland Way footpath along the coast
There is also the Cinder Path which runs from Whitby to Scarborough and is great for walking and cycling. If you fancy a bike ride but don’t have a bike then don’t worry as there is a place called Bayhire based in Scarborough who will deliver bikes to you and collect them after your day out. For information on any offers from this company pop into our reception when you are staying with us so we can tell you more. Their website is https://www.bayhire.co.uk/
For more inspirational ideas check out https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby/things-to-do
Bars, Cafes & Restaurants
With so much to see and do in mystical Whitby, you will need somewhere to refuel and reminisce on all the exciting experiences you’ve just enjoyed.
You won’t be searching for long, as this coastal town has a plethora of pubs, bars and restaurants serving a selection of cuisines to suit all tastes.
Of course, being by the sea you can’t miss out on freshly caught seafood - be that dressed crab and luxurious lobster in one of the many restaurants across Whitby or traditional fish and chips enjoyed sat at a table or at the end of the pier.
Having so many wonderful establishments in Whitby for food and drink it’s hard to pick just a selection for you so please click on the image below for ideas of where to eat out.
https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby/food-and-drink
Whitby Events
Throughout the year Whitby has so many different events going on. From Steampunk weekends, Whitby Regatta, Goth Weekends, Steam Rally Weekends, Northern Soul & 60’s weekends and many, many more there is surely something for all tastes. For more information please check out https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/whitby/whats-on as this site has loads of information on upcoming local events.
Whatever you decide to come to Whitby for we are sure you will have an absolutely amazing time!